Get Rich Slowly: About Us

Get Rich Slowly — named a best blog by Time magazine and most inspiring money blog by Money magazine — is devoted to sensible personal finance.

You will not find any get-rich-quick schemes here. Nor will you find multi-level-marketing fads or hot stock tips. Instead, you’ll find unbiased, carefully researched information about personal finance and related topics. We focus on helping you get the most out of the financial products and services that you use every day — bank accounts, investment accounts, mortgages, credit cards, insurance — as well as a range of educational resources on budgeting, saving for college, and living well on less.

Get Rich Slowly was founded by J.D. Roth in April 2006. He shared his personal stories about debt elimination, saving money and practical investing. In 2009, J.D. sold the site to QuinStreet, a media marketing company based in Foster City, California, where today the Get Rich Slowly team includes journalists, personal finance experts and real people writing about their quest for financial security.

Without financial goals, you have no direction, which makes it easy to spend money on things you’ll regret later. But if you know that you’re saving for a house, for your daughter’s college education, or for a new car, your goal will keep you focused.

Spend less than you earn.

Track every penny you spend. Avoid debt. Avoid debt. Avoid debt. Easier said than done, I know, but the fundamental rule of personal finance is this: in order to get out of debt and build wealth, you must spend less than you earn. There’s no way around it. Further reading:How to get out of debt.

Pay yourself first.

Before you pay your bills, before you buy groceries, before you do anything else, set aside some percentage of your income to save. Start small if you have to — even 1% is good — and increase your savings as you’re able. Aim to reach 20%. Further reading: Which online high-yield savings account is best?

Small amounts matter.

Don’t be frustrated if you’re only saving $25 per month. I started small, too. Though the going seemed slow at first, these small moves helped me develop good habits. And don’t underestimate the power of just one small change.

Large amounts matter, too.

It’s good to clip coupons to save money on groceries, but it’s even better to shop around for the best deal on a mortgage. Everyday frugality can save you a little money consistently, but by making smart choices on big ticket items, you can save thousands of dollars in one blow. Further reading:Want to save? Give up the big things!

Do what works for you.

Each person is different. What works for one person may not work for another. There’s no one right way to save or to invest or to pay off debt or to buy a house. Don’t believe anyone who says there is. Be willing to experiment until you find methods that are suited to your life.

Slow and steady wins the race.

The most successful people are those who work longest and hardest at something they love to do. Find ways to make frugality fun. Recognize that you’re in this for the long haul. You’re making a lifestyle change, not looking for a quick fix. Further reading:How to build an emergency fund.

The perfect is the enemy of the good.

Too many people are reluctant to start getting their finances in order because they don’t know what the best first step is. Don’t worry about getting things exactly right. Choose a good option and do something. Optimize later.

Failure is OK.

It’s OK to make mistakes. Even billionaires like Warren Buffett make mistakes. We learn from failure. Don’t let a single mistake drag you down. Use failure to learn how to do better next time.

It’s more important to be happy than rich.

Don’t become obsessed with money and wealth. Money gives you more options, but happiness makes life worth living. I believe that if we’re able to stay happy and in control of our lives, money actually becomes easier to manage. Further reading:What’s the reason for saving and investing?

These are the basic tenets of the Get Rich Slowly philosophy and the ideas that fuel every article we post. Even with our research-driven, unbiased approach, though, we encourage you to always form your own conclusions and seek out second- even third-opinions. After all, it’s your money and your life.

How We Make Money

Get Rich Slowly receives compensation from the companies offering financial products and services on our site, but those payments are completely independent of our research and recommendations. Companies do not endorse or review our editorial content.

My name is J.D. Roth. I started Get Rich Slowly in 2006 to document my personal journey as I dug out of debt. Then I shared while I learned to save and invest. Twelve years later, I've managed to reach early retirement! I'm here to help you master your money — and your life. No scams. No gimmicks. Just smart money advice to help you get rich slowly. Read more.

If you like this website, you should check out the year-long Get Rich Slowly course. It contains everything I've learned about saving and investing during 12 years of writing about money. Buy it here.

General Disclaimer: Get Rich Slowly is an independent website managed by J.D. Roth, who is not a trained financial expert. His knowledge comes from the school of hard knocks. He does his best to provide accurate, useful info, but makes no guarantee that all readers will achieve the same level of success. If you have questions, consult a trained professional.

Advertising Disclosure: Some offers on this page may promote affiliates, which means GRS earns a commission if you purchase products or services through the links provided. All opinions expressed here are the author's and not of any other entity. The content at Get Rich Slowly has not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by any entity mentioned at the site. For additional information, please review our full advertising disclosure.